The Help Group's Teddy Bear Tea Features Jamie Lee Curtis

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Special Afternoon Benefited Children with Autism, Learning Disabilities and Other Special Needs.

Dr. Barbara Firestone, Nadine Schiff-Rosen & Jamie Lee Curtis

Today we celebrate the collective commitment that we all share to help children with autism, learning disabilities and other special needs to express the unique and wonderful potential that each child possesses.

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Actress, author, activist, philanthropist, Jamie Lee Curtis captivated the audience at The Help Group's 2nd annual Teddy Bear Tea: An Affair of the Heart held recently at The Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. With candor, warmth and insight, Ms. Curtis spoke of her life experiences and the inspiration for her series of best-selling children's books that have sold more than 4.6 million copies.

The Teddy Bear Tea was hosted by Nadine Schiff-Rosen, and generously sponsored by Ms. Schiff-Rosen and her husband Fred Rosen. Both serve on The Help Group's Circle of Friends Philanthropic Board. She thanked all the guests and said, "It's so important for every child to get the help that they need, and by supporting The Help Group you can make this possible." Tea Co-hosts, Julia Baumgartner and Teddi Cole, parents of children who attend The Help Group's Summit View school, spoke of The Help Group's positive impact on children and families.

In her welcoming remarks Dr. Barbara Firestone, Help Group President and CEO, and author of the highly acclaimed and award winning book, Autism Heroes: Portraits of Families Meeting the Challenge, set the tone for the afternoon, "Today we celebrate the collective commitment that we all share to help children with autism, learning disabilities and other special needs to express the unique and wonderful potential that each child possesses." Dr. Firestone announced that The Help Group has recently broken ground on its newest campus, a state-of-the-art autism center focusing on specialized education, applied research, parent education, professional development, and outreach.

The program included the remarks of Deanna Munguia, parent of a four year son, Manny who attends The Help Group's Young Learners Preschool for Autism. She spoke about her family's journey since they first realized that Manny was developing differently and about the positive impact of early intervention. At the conclusion of her remarks, young members of The Help Group Children's Choir sang "When You Wish Upon a Star" to a cheering audience.

At the close of the event Ms. Curtis signed her books, including the recent #1 New York Times bestseller, Big Words for Little People. The Teddy Bear Tea was truly an affair of the heart enjoyed by all.

Founded in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative nonprofit of its kind in the U.S. serving children with autism, learning disabilities and other special needs. The Help Group's specialized education and therapy programs serve more than 5,000 children and families each year. Through outreach, parent and professional education efforts, The Help Group extends its reach to countless others nationally and internationally. http://www.thehelpgroup.org